Camden National Bank to Honor Outstanding Leadership in Nonprofit Community

CAMDEN, Maine – June 7, 2016 – Camden National Bank, through The Bank of Maine Charitable Foundation, is accepting nominations for the 2016 Leaders & Luminaries Award competition. The statewide search honors four of Maine’s leading nonprofit board members and presents them with cash awards for their organizations. Leaders & Luminaries recognizes board members who have effectively used inspiration, creativity and ingenuity in board governance and whose contributions have led to the organization’s growth, successful transition or financial stability. Each of the selected leaders will be presented with cash prizes totaling $20,000.

“We believe in honoring individuals who have made important contributions in their communities through outstanding strategic leadership,” said Greg Dufour, president and chief executive officer of Camden National Bank. “Our nonprofit sector is frequently challenged with limited resources and funding, yet there are people doing amazing work despite the challenges that exist. As a community bank, we want to be able to recognize these inspirational leaders and provide financial support to help them further their organization’s goals.”

The Leaders & Luminaries Award competition is open to any board director of a 501(c)(3) organization based in Maine who can demonstrate how inspiration, creativity and ingenuity in governance has led to his or her organization's success. Four awards totaling $20,000, presented through The Bank of Maine Charitable Foundation, will be awarded to this year’s winners at a special ceremony held during the Maine Association of Nonprofits (MANP) Executive Leadership Forum, “Building Board Engagement,” on November 10, 2016 at the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport.

An independent selection committee, appointed by Camden National Bank, will select the four winners. Each Leaders & Luminaries award winner will receive $5,000 for his or her nonprofit organization. Last year’s award recipients included Catherine Powers of Bath Housing Authority, Pete Bixler of Bay Chamber Concerts in Rockport, William Branch of Kennebec Behavioral Health in Waterville, and Lynn Gierie of the Robbie Foundation in Scarborough.

About Camden National Bank

Camden National Bank is a full-service community bank that offers state-of-the-art online and mobile banking resources through a network of 63 branches and 85 ATMs in Maine, as well as lending offices in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Headquartered in Camden, Maine, the bank employs over 650 people who are dedicated to providing the best banking experience for customers every day. To learn more, visit www.CamdenNational.com.

About The Bank of Maine Charitable Foundation

The Bank of Maine Charitable Foundation, a private charitable foundation operated by Camden National Bank, has been strengthening local communities through charitable giving and partnerships throughout Maine for over 25 years. Originally established as the Gardiner Savings Institution Charitable Foundation in 1988, the goal of the Foundation is to address the critical needs that exist in the communities the Bank services and maintain a strong history of community trust and support. Major charitable contributions awarded through the Foundation focus on supporting the vital signs of a healthy community which include education and youth services, health and human services, arts and culture, and economic development. For more information on Camden National Bank’s philanthropic efforts, visit www.CamdenNational.com.